SA hosts first Afro-Asian Cup
Brad Morgan
16 August 2005
The inaugural Afro-Asian Cup, a one-day series between an Asia XI and an Africa XI, begins at Pretoria's Supersport Park on Wednesday.
The Asian side will be made up of players from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, while the African team will be chosen from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
On paper it would appear to be a bit of a mismatch, with Sri Lanka ranked second in the ODI world rankings, Pakistan fourth, and India eighth. For the African side, South Africa is ranked fifth, Zimbabwe ninth, and Kenya tenth.
However, playing in South Africa will be a big boost for the "home" team.
Three matches have been scheduled, and they have been officially recognised by world cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council. All three contests will be day/night fixtures, starting at midday.
Strong link to the sub-continent
The first game takes place at Supersport Park in Centurion on 17
August, followed by two matches in Durban on 20 and 21 August.
The two games in Durban are an indication of the coastal city's strong Asian population and its links to the sub-continent.
Three selectors have been appointed for both teams, with each country having one man on the panel. ICC match referee and South African cricket great Mike Procter is the SA representative, while Psyche Nkala represents Zimbabwe, and Tom Tikolo represents Kenya.
The Asian selectors are well-known cricket commentator and former Indian star Ravi Shastri (who once hit six sixes in an over), Majid Khan, who played 63 tests for Pakistan, and former Sri Lankan international Sidath Wettimuny.
Proceeds from the series will be used to cover costs and to help develop cricket in Africa and Asia at all levels.
The winners will receive US$100 000 (R667 000), while the winners of the individual games will pick up $25 000 (R167 000). Winners of the man of the match award will each pocket
$5 000 (just over R33 000), and the man of the series will walk away with $10 000 (nearly R67 000).
Hiccups
There have been some hiccups in the lead-up to the Cup.
One problem the organisers have been experiencing is signing up a television broadcaster for the series. The likely suspects all have prior commitments, while South African sports powerhouse Supersport has expressed an interest, but is unwilling to pay for the rights.
Organisers have hoped to make about US$10-million (almost R67-million) from television over the course of three years.
Another concern is that the Pakistan Cricket Board has told its players that none of them need take part in the Afro-Asian Cup. India appear certain to include their big guns because the man behind the tournament, former Indian cricket boss Jagmohan Dalmiya, is the Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation chairman. He is hopeful that the event will become an annual one.
Graeme
Smith out?
There have been some suggestions that SA captain Graeme Smith could also miss the series. He still has two matches to serve in a four-match ban because of the Proteas' slow over rate during their tour of the West Indies from March to May of this year.
Should Smith sit out the Afro-Asian Cup he would not miss any matches against New Zealand, who are set to tour South Africa in October.
Despite the difficult of squeezing in another event on an already crowded international cricket schedule, the Afro-Asian Cup could hold some direct cricketing benefits for the Proteas.
They will face a tough challenge before the arrival of New Zealand's Black Caps, who are ranked above South Africa in the one-day ratings, in third place. Then, there will also be an opportunity to take a closer look at India, who will tackle South Africa in November in five one-dayers.
After that, it's the biggest test of them all, away to Australia in December
2005/January 2006.
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